Branding tool



F. M. JAMES BRANDING TOOL Oct. 24, 1939.

Filed Aug. 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l F'RANCM M $1 2 2? 4m ATTORNEY.

Oct.24, 1939. J MES 2,177,180

BRANDING TOOL Fild Aug. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 10 FIl 11 FId. S Fig. 6Fni. 7

' INVENTOR, f'7 svzzxzcm' M J4me:

Patented Oct. 24, 1939 PATENT OFFICE BRANDING TOOL Francis M. James,Leon,

Kans., assignor f twenty-four per cent to Walter A. Wylie and twentyfourper cent to Minnie Niles, both of Wichita,

Kans.

Application August 8,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a branding tool, and has for itsprincipal object a heating meanscarried by the branding tool structurefor the introduction of heat to the branding iron.

' A further object of my invention is to provide a branding tool thatwill function as a torch when the branding iron is removed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a branding toolhaving branding irons that are interchangeable, and means to restrictthe burning fuel to the lines of the branding iron, contacting the sameas heating means therefor.

' A still further object of my invention is to 1 5v provide a :tool asherein set forth, said tool adaptable tobranding live stock and othercommodity such as logs afloat within aboom or otherwise, asdistinguishing means from other logs should the boom break.

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained,reference'being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, in which like characters will apply to like parts in thedifferent views.

Referring to the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a side view of the branding tool.

Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the tool looking toward the branding ironpositioned thereon, parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 4 is a similar view to that of Fig. 3, the branding iron andsupporting disc removed to show the apertures in the chamber head.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the branding iron and disc.

r Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 4. r

Fig. 7 is a rear view of thebranding iron disc.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a modified form for the brandingiron.

Fig. 10 is a similar view to that of Fig. 9 showing another modificationof the branding iron.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross section taken on line ll-ll in Fig. 8looking in the direction of the arrows, the fuel chamber fragmentarilyshown.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of a preferred method ofconnecting the head to the peripheral chamber wall.

My invention herein disclosed consists of a.

branding tool comprising a fuel chamber l to which is connected a shankconcentrically and 5 axially extending therefrom as shown in Figs. 1

1938, Serial No. 223,667

and 2, the shank comprised of a pair of members 2, spaced apart andarcuate in cross section to conform to a body of a tank 3 seatedtherebetween. and. being clamped therein securely by a bolt rearward ofthe end of the tank extending through each of said shank members, bywhich means the said tank is easily removed and replaced. Between theouter end of said shank members is secured an end portion of a handle 5through the medium of a bolt 6. The outer end of said handle has a gripelement 1 secured thereto as a convenient means to determine thevertical position of the branding iron.

The said tank 3 is preferably cylindrical in form to align with theshank members and to be partially concealed thereby as a nonobstructivefeature during manipulation of the tool, the tank adapted to containvolatile liquid to be placed therein by removing cap 8, which is fluidtight sealing means for its respective opening, and the said tank at therear end thereof has an air pump with a plunger 9 by which means thefuel is placed under pressure, compressing the liquid to cause promptejection thereof through a pipe I!) connecting said tank to the fuelchamber later described, it being understood that the tank is vpartiallyfilled'with the volatile liquid to provide an air space for thecompression above referred to.

The said pipe I 0 has a valve I I functioning as a cut-01f, and, togovern the flow of liquid through said pipe, the said pipe axiallyextends from the tank, entering the chamber wall A concentric thereto,as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, at which point there is a sleeve l2 securedto said wall, extending inward therefrom, and in which said pipeextends, the sleeve being greater in diameter to permit a plurality ofapertures [3 in the wall of the chamber communicating with the sleeve,and the said sleeve to function as an air intake, and being controlledby a rockable cut-off plate l4 that turns on pipe ID, the said platebeing apertured to register with the first said apertures, whereby theflow may be partially or entirely out off by turning the plate.

Positioned in the fuel chamber is a vapor pipe l5, one end of whichextends outward of the chamber and beneath said pipe III, as at I6, saidend being slotted to function as a burner, generating the liquid into avapor as it enters the fuel chamber, said pipe l5 being fed by vaporfrom the chamber.

The fuel chamber, consisting of a rear wall A and a head B, spaced apartand being connected by a peripheral wall C that is arcuate in form withrespect to cross section, will function as a torch or burner, but tosuch form I do not wish to be restricted. The said arcuate portionadjacent the head preferably has a shoulder D, as shown in Fig. 12 as aconvenient means to assemble the fuel chamber and parts extendingtherein. The head B is finely and closely apertured throughout its areaas at E to form jets through which the gaseous fuel flows and may bepartially sealed by a disc I! seated thereon and retained in registrywith the head by a flange I8, extending therearound, terminating on aplane with the outer side of said disc, and the said disc is supportingmeans for a branding iron I9 secured thereto by appropriate legs 20,spacing the iron a short distance from the disc, and the said disc to beslotted as at 2 I, conforming to the lines of the iron and directlythereunder; the said slot passing through the disc is means to open thejets in registry therewith, so that the flames of the burning fuel willpass through the slot in direct contact. with the inner portion of thebranding iron as heating means therefor.

It will be seen that the said branding irons may vary in cross sectionas shown in Figs. 8, 9, and, 10. Fig. 8 shows the preferred way which ischanneled or U-shapedin cross section, and

being so arranged, the flames will enter the channel, heating the samequickly to a desired temperature, while in Fig. 9, the inner edge of theiron is broad and against which the flames will impinge, transmittingheat therethrough. Fig. 10 shows the iron as tapering toward the slot,by which form the flames may divide, extending along each side a shortdistance, which would result in quickly heating the outer extremitythereof.

It will be understood that the said branding iron disc is readilyremoved, replaced and secured by a pair of pins 22, radially extendingand diametrically positioned on the disc to engage in their respectivebayonet slots 23, diametrically positioned in the annular flange.

Branding irons are specially formed as identifying means for ownershipof property; therefore, the slot passing through the disc must conformto and be in registry with the inner portion of the branding iron, andthe head, being apertured as above described, is means to insure ampleflow of the gaseous fuel through the slot to heat the iron, while allother apertures are closed. 7

While I have shown and described a tool having the facilities of agaseous heating principle, I do not wish to be restricted to such alone,as electric current with proper conduction may be arranged, and suchother modifications may be employed as lie within the scope'of theappended claims.

Having fully described myinvention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a branding tool, in combination with a vaporizing burner having afuel chamber and means to inject vaporized fuel into the chamber and anapertured head to close the chamber, the apertures being fine withrespect to diameter and in close proximity over the surface of the head,a slotteddisc and means to secure the disc to snug engagementupontheouter face of the apertured head by which means the flow of;

burning gas is restricted to the contour of the slot, and anelementhaving a similar contour and means to carry the same in registrywith the slot and being spaced outward therefrom to be heated thereby.

2. In abranding tool, in combination with a vaporizing burner having afuel chamber and means to inject vaporized fuel into the chamber and aremovable apertured head to close the chamber and means to secure thehead to the chamber; the apertures being fine with respect to,

